Benito van de Pas won his maiden PDC senior ranking title with a magnificent victory over Michael van Gerwen in Players Championship 4 at the Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday afternoon. Van de Pas and Van Gerwen contested Friday’s final, but ‘Big Ben’ gained revenge just 24 hours later, securing victory in a nail-biting deciding leg.

It was an extremely high-quality final. Van Gerwen averaged 111 but was still beaten by an inspired van de Pas, who hit a remarkable seven 180’s and averaged 110 himself. This is Van de Pas’s second victory over MvG in 2016, and the pair could contest a fantastic rivalry for years to come.

Van de Pas once again performed with tremendous consistency throughout the day. ‘Big Ben’ eased into round-three with routine victories over Nigel Heydon and Jason Wilson, before edging past Mark Webster 6-4 to reach the last 16. He then faced Chris Dobey in the last 16 for the second straight day, and Benito prevailed with a sublime whitewash victory.

The 23-year-old continued his fine form with a thumping 6-1 victory over Alan Norris in the last eight, before securing his place in Saturday’s final with an emphatic 6-2 triumph against Gerwyn Price, who had earlier defeated the likes of Jermaine Wattimena, Terry Jenkins, Joe Cullen and Max Hopp.

However, for the second consecutive afternoon, Van de Pas would face his compatriot Michael van Gerwen. MvG was in spectacular form throughout the day, and he kicked off his campaign with a magnificent 118.46 average en route to a 6-1 victory against Mark Frost. MvG clinched the victory with an exhibition 160 checkout (T20, Bull, Bull).

‘The Green Machine’ then eased in round-four with comfortable victories against Stephen Willard and Matthew Dennant, before defeating Simon Whitlock 6-2 in the last 16 for the second day in succession. The world number one then defeated his compatriot Jelle Klaasen by the same scoreline to seal his place in the last four.

It was a clash between the world’s top two in the semi-finals, as Van Gerwen faced world champion Gary Anderson. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ dropped just three legs in defeating Brett Claydon, John Bowles and Shaun Griffiths, before he avenged yesterday’s first-round exit against Johnny Clayton by beating the Welshman 6-3.

Anderson defeated Dave Chisnall 6-3 in the quarter-finals to set up a clash against MvG, but the Scot was unable to halt the imperious ‘Green Machine’, as Van Gerwen prevailed 6-4 to reach yet another PDC ranking final.

However, whilst the final was a repeat of Friday’s match-up, the outcome was very different, as Van de Pas held his nerve to scoop the £10,000 winner’s cheque. Additionally, this victory will see the talented Dutchman break into the world’s top 20 for the first time in his career. Congratulations Benito!

Elsewhere, Rowby-John Rodriguez recorded some fine scalps on Saturday afternoon. He eased past three-time world champion John Part 6-1 in the first-round, before whitewashing talented Dutchman Jeffrey de Zwaan to reach round-three. ‘Little John’ then thrashed Ross Smith 6-2, before succumbing 6-1 to Alan Norris in the last 16.

James Wade and Robert Thornton also suffered relatively early exits. Both men were beaten in round-one in Friday’s third Players Championship event of 2016, but they only went one step further this afternoon. Wade was beaten 6-5 by impressive youngster Chris Dobey, whilst Thornton was edged out 6-4 by former BDO man Jeffrey de Graaf.

Vincent van der Voort’s struggles continue, as he suffered a fourth successive first-round Players Championship exit in 2016. Van der Voort was defeated by former world finalist Andy Hamilton 6-4, whilst sixth seed Ian White suffered a 6-2 reverse against former world champion Christian Kist at the same stage.